We share the journey of our family joining the bone marrow registry and donating to spread awareness. We share it all, our thoughts, our worries, our experience and we share that we do it all again. There are heros all over the world doing good everyday - this is just the story of my husband.

Joining The Registry / Swabbing Our Cheeks....

8 weeks or so and all our Steps Together posts will be over... But doing the project, we learned that there are 4 families in our town who have children with Leukemia. One of those families shared www.bethematch.org with us. Our 5 cotton swabs arrived in the mail today, we ran them through our mouths and in the mail they go tomorrow. It's that easy.

Less than 3 months later....

Blood work for Mike on Tuesday. He is a strong possible marrow match for a 35 year old woman with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Tuesday...

Hurricane hits the East Coast. Federal Express could not guarantee the delivery of blood sample so Mike just met a representative at Rutgers who took his blood and is driving it back to the NY Blood Bank. It will be about 2 weeks until we hear if it's a marrow match - there is a 1 in 12 chance so odds are still fairly low. Prayers for the girl who needs this marrow.

At this appointment we learned more about being a match. What hit home the most is the person that you are donating to his just like you! In order to be a match, they literally have to have nearly identical ancestry. In fact if we traced it back far enough, there is a good chance that Mike could be related to this woman that he is a potential match for. For this reason, we also learned that it's so critical that more minorities join the registry.

4 weeks later....

As a follow up to the 35 year old woman Mike was a potential bone marrow match for...... we never heard back from the blood bank after the 2nd stage of testing/confirmation. We should have heard the Tuesday before Thanksgiving but we gave them the benefit of the doubt with the holiday and waited. Still no follow up call, seems a bit odd, but I guess I'm happy to have them allocate their resources to the matches and not spend time calling non-matches.

8 weeks after confirmation blood sample is taken....

We finally hear. Mike is a match but the young woman is not ready. I pray it's because she is kicking Leukemia's ass.

3 weeks later.... (Now just 5-months after joining the registry)

We just got the call, the unknown 35-year old woman is ready for her marrow and Mike is the chosen one. Donation date is selected, it's 8-weeks from today. Kind of speechless, kind of scared, kind of proud - hard to put my finger on the emotion right now.

A few have asked about Mike's marrow donation so here's the
latest. Due to the needs of the recipient, the donation is now set for 4 weeks from today. While I wanted to share the entire process to bring awareness to marrow
donation, there was a moment where it was a lot to think about and a lot to
share. When the package arrived detailing the risks, the corresponding life
insurance policy that comes with donating, there was a moment (more for me than
Mike) where I wasn't so sure, we don't know this woman, we are a young family,
some unknowns but how do you balance your own fears with knowing you have the
ability to save someone's life. The karma of it all. So we are going ahead like
many people do everyday to help strangers. With that came a commitment to post
vaguely on social media as I'm sure wherever this woman is overseas, she is
likely on FB just like me and they want to protect the anonymous process. I'll
keep you updated vaguely as things become very real (process wise) when we hit
30 days till donation. For now we enjoy that
Mike is on his way home and we have a good excuse for him not to travel for a
few weeks!

11 days later....

3 hour physical complete for Mike's upcoming marrow donation.
TONS of blood (30 plus viles), EKG, chest x-ray, lots of paper work. As it's an
international donation, both the donor and recipient country do their own tests
meaning extra paperwork, extra blood. The EKG showed an enlarged heart (I knew
he had a huge heart!) but this isn't untypical of a marathoner so another EKG
and ultrasound of his heart will be done in the coming days. No alcohol for 2 weeks prior as it
reduces the effectiveness of the drug used and be very careful as once she
starts the process on her end, she must get the marrow. They treated him like a
rock star, literally texting doctors before he arrived so they stopped what they
were doing and saw Mike. The odds of this being a success are as high as
50%!

The coordination effort behind this is mind boggling. There will
be a courier outside his door waiting for the stem cells,
have a flight waiting, have security clearance and customs clearance in advance
from both departing and arriving airport.

And lastly a shout out to marathoners. The donor who was there
yesterday was also a marathoner!

9 days later....

Due to the health of the unknown recipient, she will not be well
enough to receive the marrow as planned. They have pushed it out another two
weeks. Downside is that ALL the blood work that they needed for both the
donating and receiving countries has to be within 30 days of donation so Mike
has to do it all again. This Friday he will see a cardiologist to follow up on
the enlarged heart found during his physical. They are still thinking it's
running related but need to fully ensure Mike's safety as donating is stressful
to the heart. Keep this girl in your prayers, she must be in such a fragile
state. I pray we get to meet her someday meaning we all get through this
without issue.

Cardiac Follow-Up....

Mike's athletic ability explained. Look at that left ventricle beating off the charts when resting...with a heart rate of 43. (and he's out of shape). Heart cleared to donate!

Preparing the kids.... maybe...

"Daddy are super heros real?" Mike goes ummm...I see a
perfect opportunity to prep the kids for the upcoming bone marrow donation.
"Actually kids, Daddy is a super hero. He is going to try and save
someone's life by giving them some of the special power that he has."
Jacob replies "Iron man is still cooler" Mike jumps in and explains a
woman is going to come give him a shot everyday to give him more power. Kids
are staring at him blankly and Jacob goes "You should get a iron
suit." Good Talk. (anyway redo of all blood work is tomorrow, we are
locked and loaded again on a new date. To that point, we are drinking every night
b/c soon we will have to go dry in preparation.. Well he will but he didn't
drink for those 9 months when I was pregnant - oh wait...)

Bottoms Up!

Our last glass! Marrow donation is now two weeks out. Recipient
begins preparation in 4 days.

9 months from joining the registry....

MIKE BEGINS BONE MARROW DONATION PROCESS TOMORROW!

Last year we started Steps Together to help families who were
facing a medical crisis. The project had three goals – to provide financial and
emotional support as well as spread awareness. To our surprise, the awareness
hit close to home when we realized how many families in our town were battling
cancer.

One of the families we met was the Spitzers. Their 8 year
old son Ben has been fighting leukemia for well over two years, yet this
incredible kid just last week managed to take the starting pitcher position for
first season’s game of travel baseball team. Although his family never needed
the support of Steps Together, we became close with Derrith (Ben's Mom) as she
largely contributed to the inception of Steps Together last year. Encouraged by
Derrith, Mike and I joined the marrow registry in August. We swabbed our cheeks
in our kitchen and dropped the envelope in the mail.

Within 8-weeks, we received a call that Mike was a potential
match. Yes, just 8-weeks. Tests followed, it was confirmed, it was exciting, it
was scary… it was more scary than exciting. We have to believe some greater
force intervened as there is a 1 in 5 million chance of being a marrow match
for a non-relative. Mike has spent an incredible amount of time at RWJ over the
past several months preparing to help this woman that we’ve never met.
Tomorrow, he will begin the process of donating marrow. Her odds of conquering
leukemia with a marrow donation are as high as 50%. Mike will take 5 injections
over the next 5 days that will make his body produce extra marrow. His bones
will literally fill so much that they will expand causing the stem cells will
overflow into his blood. This is expected to feel as uncomfortable as it
sounds. On Tuesday, we will head to the hospital for a 5-hour procedure. The doctors will remove the cells from his blood. The risk to the donor of this procedure is
minimal, but it can be painful and stressful on the body.

Our kids don't get it, Iron Man is still more of a hero, but I
get it. Mike is my hero. To this woman, who we hope to meet after the 2-year
international donor regulations are lifted, we pray for you. I wish you could
know the man your marrow is coming from. I feel your odds of survival are far
greater than 50% as I've never met anyone in my life like Mike. If you get any
part of Mike's personality, you may find you have more energy than combining
that of the nearest 100 people; you may be the most encouraging and supportive
person in the world; you may also become mildly obsessed with the color of your
lawn.

What Mike is doing literally epitomizes what Steps Together is
about. He is paying it forward and stepping up to help someone in need… someone
that he doesn’t even know. May you find this story as inspirational as I do.
Please keep Mike in your prayers and this woman who awaits his marrow. If you
want to consider joining the bone marrow registry or to learn more, please
visit www.bethematch.com.

Day 1.....

We are home. Turns out to donate
you get 10 shots, not 5 - one in each arm x 5. Mike's left arm swelled so we
had to ice it and wait for a doctor to check it - she wasn't concerned. He
feels fine and wants to run but they said no. So now the rest of the shots are
in our fridge and a nurse will come to our house. There were 4 people in our
room - one donating her own cells as she didn't have a match, a man receiving a
treatment from complications after a bone marrow transplant, a very tiny man
who was donating (they kept telling us Mike would be fine - look how tiny
that guy is - they even used strong like bull a few times - funny nurses!) and
us. We were in
the lucky seats today and we are thankful for that.

Day 2....

Day 2 injections just completed. That's our super sweet nurse
Liz. Mike felt funny last night, some sternum and back pain which we expected.
But he slept well and woke up great. We let him rest and surprised him with
breakfast. Fingers crossed he keeps handling this so well. We are off to his
company picnic in a few.

Day 3....

Day 3 injections done. We won't get to see nurse Liz again bc
she has another job Monday thru Friday but she was great - even brought gifts
for kids today! Mike is telling me he is good but he only wants to ride his
mower not push so that tell me he's not great. Plus I found him laying on the
couch which never happens. He seems to have tired, glassy eyed moments but then
gets better. The back and sternum pain continue to increase, the nurse
explained that it's because the cells are generated there. All in all, a small price
to pay (says the one not getting shots).

Day 4....

Shots 7 & 8 are done! That's our early Monday morning nurse. Post shots - Mike is off to work. He works from home a lot though which is good as I'm not sure he would drive today.

Pictured here are my two incredible
kids with our hero. They have called on me for everything since Mike started
this process. Em is a Daddy's girl through and through but wakes up calling me
and telling me that Daddy needs rest when I walk in. She always wants to talk
about bones now.

I have to admit I've never been more excited for a Monday just
to get this day behind us - which is ironic as I'm equally anxious about
tomorrow's harvest. Having said that, we know how blessed we are that this is
temporary and no one in our house is really sick taking drugs with difficult
side effects for a long period of time. It's a true honor be Mike's wingman
through this. As for pain, I keep imagining those 10 faces you see for people
to indicate their amount of pain when hospitalized. 1 is a big smile, 10 is a
big sad face. Mike takes it all in stride so I have this imaginary chart in my
head to gauge it. A 1, he is running sub 6-min miles, 3 is about 8-min miles, 5
is him running through our yard pushing his mower to see if he can beat the
time that it took him to mow the previous week, 8 is him riding his mower. Well
last night he told me he couldn't run if he wanted to and he couldn't even ride
his mower. His hips were the largest source of pain and he described it as if
the ball had expanded and was no longer fitting - getting up from a seated
position was the worst. As for the rest of the pain, it's moving aches such that
different areas of his body would tense like they were going to cramp but
didn't. Motrin is helping, he slept well last night and he seems better this
AM. If the past few days are any indicator, I think
tonight will be the hardest. My mom will be taking the kids over night so we
can be at RWJ at 8 AM tomorrow. Thank you all for your encouragement, I share
it all with him. And I say it again, I love this guy
every inch of my heart.

Later that night.....

Mike is feeling very full of something, he's somewhat dazed, feeling mild dizziness and feels like his eyes could just ooze out. We went out to dinner and carb loaded!

Day 5 - Donation Day!!!!

We arrive early and meet a woman in the waiting room. Her husband is nearing the 5 year mark post marrow transplant. She shares a lot with us about how he was diagnosed and his transplant. She holds back tears and shares details like we were old friends, sometimes laughing at what she just told us. She tells us how she slept next to him each night, hydrated his mouth constantly to avoid the mouth sores, smuggled in baby food to prevent him from needing a feeding tube. She is proud of what Mike is doing but doesn't seem to grasp our anxiety. The reality is our anxiety is nothing in comparison to what she has faced. Her husband is hooked up to the exact type of machine Mike will be connected to donate. The thing is he does this on a frequent basis to keep fighting his Leukemia, we are here for one day.

8 AM: Port in, shot 9 and 10 done, lots of blood taken as Mike has agreed to participate in an experimental study as part of his donation. 45 mins to
walk around, use the bathroom for the final time and hopefully reduce the
amount of sweat pouring out of this guy!

9:30 AM: Here we go!

11 AM: Sorry for the graphic journey but we have marrow. Whoot! 90 mins
in, 3.5 hours to go. Feeding him a power bar as I type.

2:30 PM: Tubes out. RN was beyond excited about how good his marrow
looked. Platelets post donation within normal range which is not common. Mike
is fired up! I'm so beyond proud. On a lighter note, who knew Mike could go 5
hours without peeing? He is feeling good and we will hear by 6 pm if we have to
go back tomorrow. I pray we don't.

6 PM: The phone just rang - he is done!!!!! He feels like crap between the procedure today and the injections this AM but God willing, we can pour a celebratory glass of wine tonight after the little ones to go sleep. Thank you all for letting me brag about my hero and supporting us along the way!!! As soon as we hear anything from her which can be an update from her doctor within 30 days, we will share it with you.

Post on our Steps Together Facebook Page.....

For 5 days I watched my husband handle the side effects of drugs in preparation to donate marrow to a complete stranger. Today I looked the other way as they put in a port. We then went for a walk to relax before the procedure started and found ourselves trying to forget our own moments of being here and being scared for our kids. My mind is constantly taken back to the families we help. I wonder how it is humanly possible to manage all that they endure. My drive and passion for Steps Together increased tenfold this week. May yours as well.

The day after....

Blown away by what we found in our driveway. Thank you Kevin! This is on top of dinner tonight courtesy of our hero Billy. (He refused to let us decline and he is to cute to upset), an incredible text from my niece Paige who seems so young but gets this, Mike's secretary got yesterday comp'd, the manager of Applebee's promised us a drink and countless words of encouragement from family and friends. The world has so much good!

Mike is feeling good. Still some sternum pain, hip pain and general stiffness but he is working - working from home as he usually does.

Just a few of the words of encouragement we were so
blessed to have around us....

I love reading every word you write about this
journey and I wish I had the eloquent words to describe how I feel about what
you and Mike have done. Selfless and heartfelt - you are the goodness the world
needs more of. So honored to know you both.

I know we talk about heroes in our lives but this
is not a silly professional sports star or even a comic book character, this is
a true hero. I am beyond speechless to say I know this man and his wonderful
wife. Mike, Courtney's husband, donated his bone marrow today to a stranger. He
endured pain, discomfort, risked his own health all to give a chance at life to
a woman he does not know. If you feel inspired, get a kit, register, help another
human being, be selfless....more of what our world needs.Kudos to you Mike
and Courtney
Newman. http://marrow.org/Join/Join_Now/Join_Now.aspx

Every time bad things happen you see the Mr Rogers
meme about looking for the "helpers". I have had the privilege of
knowing some of the most selfless people I have ever known through a group
called Steps-Together!
They are an amazing team that only needs to ask and I am willing to help. Mike
and Courtney
Newman are just amazing but today took the cake. Mike Newman
gave his bone marrow today for a person he may never meet or even know. Many of
us will give a dollar at a register do a walk or a run donate our time or a
large check but what Mike did today should be humbling to us all. He gave
himself, his health, and his comfort so that someone else could have a chance.
Thank you Mike Newman for your selfless act and giving me just a little hope
for humanity.

I'm very proud to know Mike Newman and Courtney
Newman for their continuous efforts to generate hope, spread
kindness, and find new ways to help people. Best wishes to Mike and the unknown
patient in need that he is helping!

Thinking of you guys and sending positive energy
your way! What a wonderful thing you're doing. An anonymous gift that money
can't buy. A priceless and selfless good deed! Kudos to you and your family!

There all many heroes in this world and many of
them go through life with very little recognition. My daughter and son-in-law,
Courtney and Mike, started a non-profit "Steps Together" to help
families facing medical expenses brought on by serious illness. Along this
incredible journey of helping people, they joined the bone marrow registry and
Mike is a match for a young woman. Mike begins his procedure today. Pray that
he and his recipient are a perfect match and this will be successful. I am so
proud of them.

Big Big prayers and thoughts to my brother in law Mike Newman, who
starts his injections today to donate his bone marrow next week. So proud of
this overwhelmingly generous act, may he be comfortable and have no side
effects.......prayers also to the young woman he is going to donate
too......may she stay strong enough to survive the process and god willing go
into remission....

2 days post donation....

Sternum pain is gone, still some stiffness but feeling normal isn't far off! Mike is driving to the office today. Mike has a rash on his hands and ankles. We actually thought it was poison ivy but it wasn't itchy. It turns out this is sometimes a side effect of the drug.

3 days post donation....

A cake arrives at our house shaped like marrow generating hips! How sweet. Thank you Derrith! Mike is getting closer to normal.

Mike is feeling himself and didn't actually realize how bad he felt during the process until he felt better. He was invited by The Somerset Medical Center Foundation to throw out the first pitch at the Somerset Patriots game for the gift of life that he gave. He was treated like a rock star and even got to meet Sparky Lyle.

Nearly 60 days post donation.....

We receive a card and the donor thanks us for giving her a 2nd chance at life.

In memory of Libby Pawelchak & John Simon - two friends we have lost to this disease.

Libby was a childhood friend of Courtney's who lost her battle in elementary school. John Simon was a friend of Courtney's who was diagnosed so Courtney ran her first marathon with Team In Training to support his fight. At that Philadelphia Marathon, she met Mike Newman.